“‘I’ve made my will, Foxy,’ he ses, ‘and schoolmaster ’s takin’ care of it; I’ve left it all to you.’
“‘All right,’ ses Foxy. ‘Thankee.’
“‘He’s goin’ to read it arter the funeral,’ ses ’is uncle, ‘which is the proper way to do it. I’d give anything to be there, Foxy, and see your face.’
“Those were ’is last words, but ’e laughed once or twice, and for a long time arter ’e’d gone Foxy Green sat there and wondered at ’is last words and wot there was to laugh about.
“The old man was buried a few days after, and Foxy stood by the grave ’olding a ’andkerchief to ’is eyes, and behaving as though ’e ’ad lost money instead of coming in for it. Then they went back to the farm, and the first thing the schoolmaster did was to send all the women off before reading the will.
“‘Wot’s that for?’ ses Foxy, staring.
“‘You’ll see,’ ses the schoolmaster; ‘them was my instructions. It’s for your sake, Mr. Green; to give you a chance—at least, that’s wot your uncle said.’
“He sat down and took out the will and put on ’is spectacles. Then ’e spread it out on the table and took a glass o’ gin and water and began to read.
“It was all straightforward enough. The farm and stock, and two cottages, and money in the bank, was all left to Josiah Green, commonly called Foxy Green, on condition——
“There was such a noise o’ clapping, and patting Foxy on the back, that the schoolmaster ’ad to leave off and wait for quiet.